Rushing Here & There

I think we're doing pretty good with most things, except that dinner times are still a struggle.  There is often too short a time between coming home and leaving for sports/music/dance to eat, and then everyone is starving by the time we come home.  I need to figure out a solution in the next month or so, because I'm tired of fast food and eating out, then I think I'll be happy!  Our schedule is pretty frantic some weeks, but I'm not sure if there is anything I would cut.  I count ourselves lucky that the boys are close in age and like the same things!

During one week, we attend 3 sports practices/games for the boys, 1 music lesson (the boys each have their lesson at the same time, but the studio is 30 minutes from home), 1 dance class for Lydia, 1 afternoon Chess Club for the boys, 1 soccer practice/game for Lydia.

The boys attend school daily. Bo's schedule is pretty set Monday - Friday with his new job.  My teaching schedule is ever-changing.  Some weeks I don't work at all (that's rare though), some weeks I work 5 days and most weeks I work something in between.  When I'm not in front of a class, I still have to prepare for classes and learn new software, so my job doesn't end when I walk out of the classroom door.  And I can't forget the few writing assignments I have and the quest to find more. I haven't traveled for a couple months now, but I'm wondering if that may pick up again in January. 

These are just the constants.  Throw in the extras -- like a chess tournament, or a special event, and things get even busier.  I'm always on the lookout for that rare afternoon or day that nothing is scheduled.  We could cut out the extra-curricular, but I don't think 1 sport and music lessons are too much, especially when considering the benefit.  I think it just makes us appreciate the downtime that much more.

What about your family?  How busy (or not) is your schedule? How do you handle meals with a busy schedule?  I'd love some new ideas!